John M. Beath, P.E. (TX), LCA‐CP,

CEO and Founder

Education: BS Chemical Engineering – Georgia Tech

Years Experience: 35+

Key Project Experience:

Carbon Management

  • Carbon Capture:  Developed the LCA methodology that led to a positive demonstration of the environmental benefit of a proposed US commercial scale carbon capture and sell project

  • GHG Reduction:  Led a comprehensive feasibility study of US refineries to determine the cost and relative carbon reduction benefit of commercially viable reduction actions including IOT instrumentation, hydrogen plant innovation, heat integration, carbon capture, switch to renewable electric supply and targeted process equipment electrification.

  • Avoided Carbon:  Developed a visualization model for a renewables power construction and operation company to guide the selection of possible direct emissions carbon reduction actions; and actions that could result in increased production capability (which translated into avoided carbon) as constructed power plants operate year-after-year.

Key Project Experience, continued:

  • Analysis Methodology Improvement:  Authored a short book that advanced a detailed methodology for assessing the carbon effectiveness of electric vehicles when compared to combustion engine vehicles.  The proposed process clearly differentiates the two types of vehicles as key parameters such as grid, vehicle weight and temperature impacts are adjusted.

  • Infrastructure:  As part of the development of a screening level city carbon footprint, evaluated the potential benefits of applying asphalt pavement over deteriorating concrete city streets – this was found to be a major aspect of the city’s overall carbon footprint during years with major road improvement projects.

Environmental Compliance Assurance

  • Enhancing Leak Detection:  Performed a detailed study of LDAR leak repair role clarity to facilitate a more collaborative workflow and communication process between stakeholders aimed at reducing leak repair time (thereby reducing the risk of missing compliance deadlines; and simultaneously reducing emissions)

  • Innovative Check Process:  Developed a unique approach to regulatory compliance assurance utilizing practical, simply worded and straightforward compliance checks performed at risk-based frequencies by plant staff; this resulted in much faster issue discovery than through external audits.  This process was adopted globally by three of the largest oil companies

  • How Clean is Clean:  Developed the environmental guidelines for the largest refinery demolition project in North America

Refinery Process Subject Matter Expert

  • Refinery Operations and Design Testimony:  Served as subject matter expert on historical refinery operations at a Superfund trial where an oil company sued the federal government and needed its operations to be explained in detail as to the potential limitation to produce certain products.

Giving Back Through Training

  • Excel Best Practices:  Delivered in-house and conference training on Excel best practices developed by his consulting teams spanning more tha 25 years of workbook development.  These classes moved past explaining what formulas do to address often-overlooked important concepts like screen layout, QA processes, documentation approaches, unit conversion transparency and avoiding pitfalls.

  • How to Read a Regulation:  Plant environmental managers often face the task of acquainting entry-level and re-purposed staff with the difficult process of taking into account all the implications of the regulatory process as rules are applied to specific situations.  After years of dealing with this issue, the training presents a window on all the places to look.  See example slides from an actual class at: https://www.beath.us/how-to-read-a-regulation

Publications/Presentations

  • “Application of Life Cycle Assessment and Tax Credits to Carbon Capture Projects,” J. M. Beath, P. Vosmus, S. Backes, V. Rybl, M. Aronson, American Center for Life Cycle Assessment Annual Meeting Presentation, September 2023

  • “On-Demand Carbon Footprint for Artificial Turf Fields to Support Carbon Offsetting,” J.M. Beath, E. Habib, American Center for Life Cycle Assessment Annual Meeting Presentation, November 2022

  • Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) 102: Electric Vehicle (EV) Global Warming Benefits – A Comprehensive Methodology for Evaluation, J. M. Beath, Self-Published on Amazon.com https://www.amazon.com/Life-Cycle-Assessment-LCA-Comprehensive-ebook/dp/B09PKT1VY9

  • “Putting Refinery Sustainability Into Perspective - A Practical Toolkit for Understanding What Can Be Done,” J.M. Beath, L. McGuire, J. Mulkerin, J. Develasco, American Fuels and Petrochemicals Manufacturers Annual Meeting, April 2021

  • “RP-VOC: A New Tool for Calculating the VOC Emissions of the Refinery Supply Chain,” J.M. Beath, P. Vosmus, R. Kazanski, T.R. Hawkins, G. Zaimes, American Center for Life Cycle Assessment Annual Meeting presentation, September 2020 https://greet.es.anl.gov/tool_rp_voc

  • Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) 101: A Simplified Guide to Developing a Carbon Footprint Estimation For Your Farm, John Beath, Book available on Amazon.Com for Kindle (December 2018). https://www.amazon.ca/Life-Cycle-Assessment-LCA-101-ebook/dp/B07MHDM2MR

  • “Contribution of Infrastructure to Oil and Gas Production and Processing Carbon Footprint,” John Beath, Marjie Boone, Nyx Black, Brandy Rutledge, Amgad Elgowainy, Michael Wang, Argonne National Laboratory Technical Papers, 2014. https://greet.es.anl.gov/publication-oil-gas-prod-infra

  • “Lessons Learned from a Comprehensive University Carbon Footprint,” June 2012, Air and Waste Management Association Annual Meeting, J.M. Beath and M. Tadmor.

  • “Applicability-Based Management of Change (MOC)”, Air and Waste Management Association, J.M. Beath, C. J. McCarthy, B. Jurkowski (2006).

  • “Unique Compliance Data Handling That Finally Gives Environmental Staff What They Want, and What They Need!”, Air and Waste Management Association, J.M. Beath, R. S. Tallent, W.E. Beck (2005).

  • “Use Periodic Checks to Demonstrate Title V Compliance,” J.M. Beath and C. McCarthy, Chemical Engineering Progress, February 2004.

Sector Experience:

Oil and Gas, Renewable Energy, Food and Beverages, Consumer Products, Chemical Manufacturing, Site Remediation, Farming, Marine Operations, Cities and Universities, Steel Fabrication, Oil Recycling